We are people of this generation… looking uncomfortably to a world we inherit
- Port Huron Statement, 1962
The Students For A Democratic Society formed in 1960 at the University of Michigan when a group of students wanted to change the world they were currently living in. They created the Port Huron Statement in June of 1962. It stated that the SDS would push for a participatory government, civil rights, and to abolish racial prejudice; only in the later 60s begin to act against the Vietnam War. Below you will find a [mock] interview with a student that is part of the SDS.
How did you find out about the SDS?
Students on my campus had created a chapter, one of 400 chapters throughout the United States, and once I heard about it I was immediately interested. They started out focusing on domestic problems like poverty and civil rights. When they became upset about the situation in Vietnam, they began to focus on events happening there having anti-war protests and becoming the beginning of the anti-war movement.
What is the main goal of the SDS?
We want to establish a participatory democracy. The SDS started out trying to change things at home like poverty, prejudice and civil rights. When the Vietnam War started to go downhill the students felt they needed to do something. They wanted to change the world so we started focusing on the war and anti-war movements.
What sort of events have you been apart of?
I have been apart of many anti-war protests across college campuses and in Washington D.C. I remember the first one I was apart of was on April 17th, 1965… I think it was the first anti-war protest of the Vietnam War and it was at the very beginning of the anti-war movement but 25,000 people showed up. A more recent event were the protests in Washington at the Lincoln Memorial and the march to the Pentagon on October 21, 1967. Around 100,000 people showed up but it ended in violence and arrests by the US marshals. This happened the same month that we had a “stop the draft” week. We encouraged many young men and students to refuse the draft and burn their draft cards.
How many members does the SDS currently have?
The SDS has over 100, 000 members right now with over 400 chapters in colleges and universities around the United States. This is the most the SDS has ever seen.
How do you think the Tet Offensive helped the SDS and the anti-war movement gain support?
When the Tet Offensive occurred the Johnson administration had just reassured the American public that the Viet Cong were weak and their forces were dwindling; basically that a large attack of any kind was not an option for them. The Tet Offensive enraged many citizens that had not been bothered by the war before now became part of the anti-war movement. I think the Tet Offensive helped us reach the support we have today.
How many people in the US actually support SDS?
At first the middle or upper class students on campus mainly support SDS and the anti-war student. The professors would try and defend the war but throughout this decade SDS and the anti-war movement has gained more support with now over 50% of the country not supporting the war. The anti-war movement has had a recent increase in support, including the support of some Vietnam veterans.
1968 would be the last year of the original SDS. It disbanded when it became more of a radical organizations and its members began making bombs. Recently, in response to the war in Iraq, some students have revived the SDS but it has not been as successful as the SDS from the 60s.
Tom Hayden. “The Port Huron Statement Of The Students For A Democratic Society” Port Huron Statement of the Students for a Democratic Society, 1962. New York: Students For A Democratic Society, 1962. 7 December 2007 < http://coursesa.matrix.msu.edu/~hst306/documents/huron.html>.
Anti War Student by Megan
We are people of this generation… looking uncomfortably to a world we inherit
- Port Huron Statement, 1962
The Students For A Democratic Society formed in 1960 at the University of Michigan when a group of students wanted to change the world they were currently living in. They created the Port Huron Statement in June of 1962. It stated that the SDS would push for a participatory government, civil rights, and to abolish racial prejudice; only in the later 60s begin to act against the Vietnam War. Below you will find a [mock] interview with a student that is part of the SDS.
How did you find out about the SDS?
Students on my campus had created a chapter, one of 400 chapters throughout the United States, and once I heard about it I was immediately interested. They started out focusing on domestic problems like poverty and civil rights. When they became upset about the situation in Vietnam, they began to focus on events happening there having anti-war protests and becoming the beginning of the anti-war movement.
What is the main goal of the SDS?
We want to establish a participatory democracy. The SDS started out trying to change things at home like poverty, prejudice and civil rights. When the Vietnam War started to go downhill the students felt they needed to do something. They wanted to change the world so we started focusing on the war and anti-war movements.
What sort of events have you been apart of?
I have been apart of many anti-war protests across college campuses and in Washington D.C. I remember the first one I was apart of was on April 17th, 1965… I think it was the first anti-war protest of the Vietnam War and it was at the very beginning of the anti-war movement but 25,000 people showed up. A more recent event were the protests in Washington at the Lincoln Memorial and the march to the Pentagon on October 21, 1967. Around 100,000 people showed up but it ended in violence and arrests by the US marshals. This happened the same month that we had a “stop the draft” week. We encouraged many young men and students to refuse the draft and burn their draft cards.
How many members does the SDS currently have?
The SDS has over 100, 000 members right now with over 400 chapters in colleges and universities around the United States. This is the most the SDS has ever seen.
How do you think the Tet Offensive helped the SDS and the anti-war movement gain support?
When the Tet Offensive occurred the Johnson administration had just reassured the American public that the Viet Cong were weak and their forces were dwindling; basically that a large attack of any kind was not an option for them. The Tet Offensive enraged many citizens that had not been bothered by the war before now became part of the anti-war movement. I think the Tet Offensive helped us reach the support we have today.
How many people in the US actually support SDS?
At first the middle or upper class students on campus mainly support SDS and the anti-war student. The professors would try and defend the war but throughout this decade SDS and the anti-war movement has gained more support with now over 50% of the country not supporting the war. The anti-war movement has had a recent increase in support, including the support of some Vietnam veterans.
1968 would be the last year of the original SDS. It disbanded when it became more of a radical organizations and its members began making bombs. Recently, in response to the war in Iraq, some students have revived the SDS but it has not been as successful as the SDS from the 60s.
Works Cited
"Port Huron Statement." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 30 Oct 2007, 22:33 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 11 Dec 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Port_Huron_Statement&oldid=168180711>.
"Tet Offensive." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 9 Dec 2007, 21:35 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 11 Dec 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tet_Offensive&oldid=176855957>.
"William Westmoreland." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 8 Dec 2007, 17:53 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 11 Dec 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_Westmoreland&oldid=176600973>.
Tom Hayden. “The Port Huron Statement Of The Students For A Democratic Society” Port Huron Statement of the Students for a Democratic Society, 1962. New York: Students For A Democratic Society, 1962. 7 December 2007 < http://coursesa.matrix.msu.edu/~hst306/documents/huron.html>.
Mintz, S. (2007). “America In Ferment: The Tumultuous 1960s.” Digital History. 10 December 2007. Digital History. 7 December 2007. < http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=376>.
“Students For A Democratic Society.” The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. New York: Columbia University Press, 2007. 7 December 2007. < http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/history/A0847020.htmlo%2509http:/www.history.com/states.do?action=detail&state=Vietnam%2520War&contentType=State_Generic&contentId=56741&parentId=1968>.
"1968: The Vietnam War." 2004. The History Channel website. 09 May 2006, 19:13. <http://www.history.com/states.do?action=state&state=Vietnam%20War&parentId=1968>.
“Gen. William Wesmoreland.” Vietnamwar.com. 2007. Americans.net. 7 December 2007. < http://www.vietnamwar.com/genwmwestmoreland.htm>